<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Together Forever|fic|257" href="#" target="_blank">Together Forever</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/fgq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yuu Fujiki</a></em></p>
<p>I don't consider myself an investigative journalist by any means, but there's been something on my mind I'd like to talk about. I'd gone online digging around to find out how much Booster Boxes costed in 2020. No, I'm not suddenly interested in Booster Boxes for no reason. With the recent release of the estimated cost of <em>Final Fantasy</em> sealed product, a lot of us are worried that there might have been a sudden hike in prices disproportionate to the natural growth of the game.</p>
<p>I say "worried" because angry isn't the right energy for this. There are certainly many reasons that people in this hobby could jump on the hate train about any slight change to this game, but I think the vast majority of players, not just haters, are reacting negatively to the price of <em>Final Fantasy</em>. It's not just saltiness for the sake of saltiness, but real concern across the entire fanbase.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yidaro, Wandering Monster|prm|80921"></div></div>
<p>The question really comes down to: are we going to be paying too much for this hobby? This brings me back to my lack of investigative training: how much did a Collector's Booster Box cost in the past, and has it drastically changed? This is surprisingly hard to figure out, from the hours I've spent trying to find this out online.</p>
<h2>What is MSRP?</h2>
<p>Way back in 2019, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> (WOTC) stopped using MSRP on their products, which is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. It basically means, in a vacuum, this is what WOTC would like the product to cost for consumers.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hansk, Slayer Zealot|sld|144"></div></div>
<p>I'm not here to discuss what a move like this means to WOTC, or even speculate on their reasons for putting this kind of policy into place, but it's important nonetheless to demonstrate how this would affect the market for consumers. And it does explain why the information I was looking for is hard to find.</p>
<h2>The Effect of MSRP</h2>
<p>MSRP, from the manufacturer, doesn't factor in how various thing might drive up retailer costs, and thus consumer's cost. Demand, accessibility, scarcity, and profit margins of the retailers might drive up this price. Hype also plays a huge role on this too, because it translates into demand, which translates into potentially higher prices initially and presales.</p>
<p>WOTC brought back MSRP in 2024 with the release of <em>Foundations</em>. which should give us a clear number to judge WOTC's responsibility for the cost of their sets. Unfortunately, while spooking around the internet for a few hours, I found it extremely difficult to find those release day prices.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Copper Dragon"></div></div>
<p>The closest I found was a Reddit post claiming they looked on 401 Games to compare the cost. I used the same site and will use this as my reference. I understand this might not be the most accurate, but it's still worth demonstrating. A <em>Foundations</em> Collector Booster box was priced at $356.95 (Converted from CAD to USD) and a <em>Final Fantasy</em> Collector Booster box is priced at $606.83. I double checked it, and that's a difference of roughly $250.</p>
<h2>Premium Like <em>Modern Horizons</em></h2>
<p>Some of the grumbles I've seen online explaining this price hike is that Universe Beyond (UB) sets are meant to be luxury sets, like <em>Modern Horizons</em>. This is confusing because <em>Final Fantasy</em> is going to be a Standard-legal set. So it would need to be Standard accessible, right?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhystic Study|sld|478"></div></div>
<p>I also looked up <em>Modern Horizons 3</em>'s Collector Booster box price and it came to $428.34. That's still a roughly $178 difference. That's concerning. I'm not oblivious to the fact that these prices for <em>Final Fantasy</em> are inflated in the way they often are with preorders, but the difference is still too stark. I'm sure the prices will come down with the flood of the market, but likely not 100+ dollars.</p>
<h2>Cost of Popular IPs In <em>Magic</em></h2>
<p>I'll be completely upfront that I'm not in a position to know whether WOTC has a legitimate reason for the price hikes. We have no idea how much it truly costs WOTC to get a popular IP like Final Fantasy and how much it might be overcharging to prepare for bigger IPs in the future. It's possible they just raised prices because they thought they could get away with doing so - just for the profit. We just don't know.</p>
<p>Something more important to note here is the duality of bringing in new players into this hobby and retaining them. The struggle here is that as the prices for this hobby go up with Universes Beyond sets, it both disillusions those enfranchised in the game to keep playing and might gatekeep new players because of initial costs to play.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zethi, Arcane Blademaster|sld|432"></div></div>
<p>New players will likely involve themselves with this hobby by buying the products that brought them in, which makes a larger barrier to entry at this price point. If the sets become increasingly more pricey to maintain, it might not bring players. It's hard to see the break point.</p>
<p>The balancing effect of this is unknown to us. Maybe the cost is worth it, maybe it's the best WOTC can manage while providing prospective and enfranchised players with new content. Even giving WOTC the benefit of the doubt, it's hard to say. It's understandable that we'd see the hike in price and get afraid that it'll destroy something we all love.</p>
<h2>The Elephant in the Room</h2>
<p>Either way, Standard is going to suffer from this. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkzXtoG_bZE&amp;ab_channel=TolarianCommunityCollege" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tolarian Community College</a> made a great video that discusses what this might do to Standard. It points out the fact that this will be the new normal for the format because all Universes Beyond prices will be like this moving forward. It's a higher price point than Modern, while being Standard playable cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abaddon the Despoiler"></div></div>
<p>Universes Beyond is planned to be half of all future sets going forward, so this is a price hike on half of all Magic product. Look at what happened to cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Orcish Bowmasters" href="#" target="_blank">Orcish Bowmasters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> did to other formats because of their single printing in LOTR. Imagine that, but for Standard sets.</p>
<p>Reprints need to be normalized for Universes Beyond cards. Universes Within, or something? I don't even know if this will be enough. I'm not sure I know what can solve this problem. Maybe UB can't be Standard-legal or UB can't be half of all sets.</p>
<h2>FOMO</h2>
<p>I've just been speculating on how much it will cost financially, but are we going to buy this stuff? Of course. <em>Magic</em> has a loyal fanbase. We love set releases and new cards. All over my Bluesky is hype about how incredibly designed and satisfying these <em>Final Fantasy</em> cards are. What WOTC refuses to do is to give us bad product. That's why it's been a huge hobby for a lot of people for a long time.</p>
<p>This is tough when we see others cracking packs and opening product like this. Commander is a friendly enough format that sitting out of one set won't warp your play experience, at least for just one set. But it's hard not to want the <em>Final Fantasy</em> product and the future <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> product line, and everything that comes after.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Slicer, Hired Muscle"></div></div>
<p>Players are in a tough environment to not to feel pressured into these new and better sets with cards that are incredibly pushed and powerful. The power creep in these sets is important. It gets harder and harder to know how to spend the little money we have for our hobby.</p>
<p>This isn't a criticism of <em>Wizards of the Coast</em>, but an observations of the nature of new sets and cost of those sets. I've seen people online lamenting their inability to afford to participate in this set because of the sudden hikes in price. This feeling adds to the fear that I spoke about again and again - the fear of not being able to participate in a hobby you love.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The One Ring"></div></div>
<p>Is this kind of marketing potentially harmful? I'm not saying people should feel entitled to things we do as a hobby, but practices like chance and FOMO are psychological techniques that have proven taxing to deal with socially. I don't mean to pressure ethics here, but it's worth considering how these practices might affect the health of the fanbase.</p>
<h2>Is This Universes Beyond's Fault</h2>
<p>As a fan of Universes Beyond, I'm in a weird position. I see a lot people looking for something to blame about what's happening here. I want to navigate this carefully. We're in a position where the thing we want is what's causing us strife. If no one wanted <em>Final Fantasy</em> there would be no problem with the cost, but that's not the case.</p>
<p>In 2020, with the release of the Godzilla alternate cards and the Walking Dead Universes Beyond Secret Lair, I doubt WOTC or the fans had any idea it would take off as much as it did. I cannot understate, however, how making UB Standard legal, after initially promising that it wouldn't be, has made opting out of UB impossible for those who had been doing so this far.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Tenth Doctor"></div></div>
<p>This makes the need of <em>Final Fantasy</em> more important than the want. Players who want to remain competitive will have to pay premium on top of premium. It's tough, and I'm conflicted. UB poses a real financial threat to the hobby, but it's simply because of how much people want these IPs in the first place. I don't want to understate or ignore this. I'd like to give you a simple answer to this situation, but it's just not simple.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>I can give you one thing though: a request. <em>Wizards of the Coast</em>, we're looking for transparency. I'd like to understand your choices about these prices and some acknowledgement of the fear a lot of players are experiencing. If we could better understand where you're coming from with this choice, I'm sure we could come to some kind of calm.</p>
<p>I highly doubt that WOTC isn't considering players when they make choices. If the push for Modern and Standard and the Commander Brackets and ban list is an indication of anything, it's that they want to listen and make as many people happy, while still being able to produce this game profitably.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captain America, First Avenger"></div></div>
<p>Maybe that's a bit too kind, but hey, I'm an optimist. If there were any points I missed, or any pieces of research you'd like to send my way, I appreciate it. I'm <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strixhavendropout.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@strixhavendropout on Blue Sky</a>.</p>


Let's Talk About the Magic Final Fantasy Prices

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder" href="#" target="_blank">Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Illustrated by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CYuichi+Murakami%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yuichi Murakami</a></em></p>
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<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?</p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a></p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza and I just learned the <em>Final Fantasy </em>set is based on a video game??!!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jumbo Cactuar"></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>You're saying I can play as this friggin' guy!?</i></p>
<p>This week, an email I missed from the column's old email address! Sorry I got to it so late!</p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
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<h2>HELLO, MIKE</h2>
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<p><em>I had a game that left a particularly foul taste in my mouth, and lashed out afterwards to express my discontent. I wanted to know if you thought I was being the Bolas for my response.</em></p>
<p><em>I was playing my new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder" href="#" target="_blank">Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> aristocrats deck in a game of online Magic with long-time friends. My opponents were playing <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod the Uncaring" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod the Uncaring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eriette of the Charmed Apple" href="#" target="_blank">Eriette of the Charmed Apple</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Adrix and Nev, Twincasters" href="#" target="_blank">Adrix and Nev, Twincasters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The game starts off rather poorly, with me missing several important land drops on turn three, four, and six, and being forced to use a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myriad Landscape" href="#" target="_blank">Myriad Landscape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from behind. That being said, it wasn't particularly a famine, because I managed to get my Evereth out with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Reaver Cleaver" href="#" target="_blank">The Reaver Cleaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> while the other players were similarly setting up their defenses.</em></p>
<p><em>I can't fault the Eriette player for enchanting my commander, nor the Ashnod player for keeping an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Spellbomb" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Spellbomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> up with the explicit condition that, if I attack them, they would bounce my commander. That's just good, clean Magic. But when I attacked the only available target to try and get my Treasures, they revealed their <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krosan Grip" href="#" target="_blank">Krosan Grip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from hand, targeting my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Reaver Cleaver" href="#" target="_blank">The Reaver Cleaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, when they could have removed the obstacles for me to attack other players before the combat step. Sure. Fine. Someone was gonna be unhappy with that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krosan Grip" href="#" target="_blank">Krosan Grip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, whatever. We're moving on.</em></p>
<p><em>Come several unimpressive turns later while my mana base catches up, Adrix and Nev and Ashnod are both down to low enough life totals that, with the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in my hand, I am able to kill them both. Meanwhile, the passive play from the Eriette player has left them with a healthy board state. I reveal to the two others that I am capable of killing them at instant speed, hoping to keep them from targeting me any further. Instead, before the start of their turn, Ashnod pops the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Spellbomb" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Spellbomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, not only targeting my commander specifically, but also one of my creatures instead of Eriette. I am forced to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in response, and with lethal damage showing on the stack, they use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Rollick" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Rollick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a spiteful last middle finger, targeting my final creature and leaving me with an empty board against Eriette. Two turns later, and the game is over with me having received every single instance of removal and Aura Curses my opponents played.</em></p>
<p><em>I was frustrated at the lack of agency I felt during that game, where the opponents I targeted could have removed the obstacles that prevented me from going after the other players. I expressed that rather crassly after the game, accusing those players of targeting me exclusively, and ultimately deciding the winner in a stacked 3v1. Am I the Bolas? Or was that truly an unofficial Archenemy game?</em></p>
<p><em>Forever a fan,</em><br />
<em>Nahiri Apologist</em></p>
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<h2>HOWDY, NAHIRI APOLOGIST!</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>What a sign off, too! <em>"Forever a fan." </em>I mean wow, thank you!</p>
<p>I think this is a story that's heavy on the details of the game, but not on the incident that has you asking if you're the Bolas. You say you crassly accused your opponents of focusing in on you. I guess "crassly" is doing the heavy lifting. It's fair to discuss the game and the feedback that comes with it. I'll say it's ideal to even casually discuss the unfolding of a match while small moves are being made toward the next game - putting stuff away, taking out another deck, etc. I feel like by saying "crassly" you're telling on yourself - you think you went a little too far. I can't say whether you were the Bolas, but there's a part of you that feels enough of a twinge to know that "maybe a little" is at least where it starts. Keep your cool next time; you'll be proud of yourself. You can get your point across without making yourself feel like you might be the Bolas.</p>
<p>I want to discuss the game and, while unfortunately you may have been on the receiving end of the brunt of the removal from your opponents, I have to ask - "can ya blame 'em?"</p>
<p>Evereth came out at the tail end of last year in <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/j25" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Foundations Jumpstart</em></a> and is a Rakdos commander I think is super cool and interesting, but most definitely rings some alarm bells for anybody who's familiar with it. If you've been exposed to a game against Evereth, watched a video about her when the card was released, or even wandered over to her <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/evereth-viceroy-of-plunder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDHREC</a> page, one thing is very clear: you brought a bomb to the table.</p>
<p>As a Rakdos aficionado and aristocrat strat lover myself, I see the appeal of her in the command zone, but much like many other scary commanders, you essentially send a message as a pre-game action. Her first ability is locked behind sorcery-speed timing, but that death trigger ability paired with a sacrifice outlet and a way to pay puts the table on notice. Even at a mana deficit, Evereth can set something up that'll make your opponents keep an eye on you. What choice do your opponents have in their position?</p>
<p>I'll give you this - Adrix playing the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Krosan Grip" href="#" target="_blank">Krosan Grip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> without wanting to politic is an interesting move. There was a deal to be made to allow you to swing at Eriette, but at this point in the game, Eriette hadn't been chopping their life totals down yet. The more immediate and explosive threat is an Evereth who can make a ton of Treasures and sacrifice them to herself. Evereth's death trigger says "each opponent," after all. With you having been missing land drops, keeping you off of mana seems like a good game plan if you're chasing a win. We don't know for sure, because we don't get your opponents' side of things here.</p>
<p>Of course, this is all without considering the fact that you flashed them the big red button. Showing off your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> didn't quite seal the deal like you thought it would - a bummer, for sure, but there's an arrogance to a move like that. I'm sure this also motivated your opponents to maybe prioritize you on their removal scale. I think it sucks for Ashnod to have just used <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Rollick" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Rollick</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on your other creature, and it feels a lot like kingmaking, what with them forcing your hand in popping the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> already. I think that part is where I'm most on your side. Although, a spite move on the way out isn't unheard of. It's like if you were to win via combat damage with an army of creatures that vastly surpass my army of creatures - am I supposed to roll over and let it through? I'm going to block to hurt you the most! And that's what this feels like. It's risk assessment and dealing with the consequences.</p>
<p>Overall, I think your feelings on the game are valid, but I can't determine if you're a Bolas for your reaction since I didn't get much of it. So you writing in tells me that you're probably at least a little Bolasy and hopefully you've learned something from this experience. Sometimes games don't break your way, and that sucks. But that's <em>Magic</em>, baby!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashnod the Uncaring"></div></div>


Am I The Bolas? - No Agency

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zhalfirin Void" href="#" target="_blank">Zhalfirin Void</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | <a href="https://www.chasestoneart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase Stone</a></em></p>
<p>When playing <em>Magic</em>, there’s a certain separation of powers across the colors you can reasonably expect to see.</p>
<p>If you’re playing against a black deck, you can expect them to destroy your permanents. Some of your creatures may die, but that is a sacrifice they’re willing to make. Literally. They’ll sacrifice their own permanents all the same. Discarding. Direct damage. Graveyard retrieval. Hallmarks of a black deck and something you need to prepare for when facing one.</p>
<p>Except, of course, if you’re following <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-play-black-differently-in-edh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this series</a> and are looking to do something a little different. Then you might encounter a black deck who jealously protects its permanents while never so much as committing a crime.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Smothering Tithe"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi’s Protection"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drannith Magistrate"></div></div><br />
<em>Let’s change the game without game changers.</em></p>
<h1>What Is Playing “Out Of Type”?</h1>
<p>While each color or combination of colors in Magic has its strengths, it’s rare for a mechanic to be completely devoid from a color. Certainly, lifegain in a mono-blue deck won’t be as common as white or green. But there are certainly <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lifetap" href="#" target="_blank">options</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Venser&#039;s Journal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aetherflux Reservoir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cosmos Elixir"></div></div><br />
<em>Even if most of those options are synergies with artifacts</em></p>
<p>At its core, playing Out Of Type or “Off-Color” is actively seeking the mechanics that barely have any support and scrounging them together. Like some sort of ramshackle scavenger, greedily scraping the barrel’s bottom for nonsense.</p>
<p>And sometimes, fools find gold.</p>
<h2>A Quick Disclaimer</h2>
<p>This isn't intended to be competitively viable. It’s for EDH, not cEDH after all. Further, the theory-crafting that goes into this follows the assumption you're avoiding leaning into any of the strengths of the color you’re playing.</p>
<p>That isn’t to say you shouldn’t <em>attempt</em> to win, just that you’re actively making it more difficult for yourself. Which to some players is anathema. However, perhaps you want to reexamine your relationship with a deck archetype. Perhaps you simply want to handicap yourself to level the playing field in your pod.</p>
<p>Or maybe you think that white’s lifelinking, indestructible, flying token swarm which exiles your permanents isn’t fun. This, of course, is the correct answer.</p>
<p>No matter what your rationale behind it, put aside whatever staples you have and focus on a theme. What can you cobble together into a deck that should have never been?</p>
<h1>What White Does Well in <em>Magic</em></h1>
<h2>Staying Safe</h2>
<p>When it comes to gaining life, white is king. Lifelink. Gaining life on enter-the-battlefield effects. Instants and sorceries with the intended effect of gaining life.</p>
<p>Further, many of its cards scale or gain additional bonuses when you have more life. Most colors subscribe to the mantra of “the only life that matters is the last,” but white actually cares quite a bit about staying topped off. And so it has protections to boot.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul Warden"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Daxos, Blessed by the Sun"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ajani’s Welcome"></div></div><br />
<em>I’ll spare you the neverending list.</em></p>
<p>Which, to be fair, is mostly the fault of its host of Angels. Whether gaining you life directly or gaining bonuses based off of how much life you have, white’s Angels really care about keeping your life total high.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Exemplar of Light"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archangel of Thune"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Righteous Valkyrie"></div></div><br />
<em>That’s a lot of Angels.</em></p>
<p>No, really. I thought white had too much lifegain even without Angels, but they don’t mess around. Aside from their lifegain, they also fly and tend to scale off of one another.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Angel of Vitality"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Resplendent Angel"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Valkyrie Harbinger"></div></div><br />
<em>That’s a </em>lot<em> of Angels</em></p>
<p>From cards that give indestructibility to stat bonuses, white really takes offense when its creatures are destroyed. It even goes so far as to hide away from the game when pressured too far, which is comical in a vacuum, yet infuriating on the field.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bastion Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Auriok Champion"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mother of Runes"></div></div><br />
<em>White knows protection’s important!</em></p>
<h2>Neutralizing Threats</h2>
<p>White is one of the more directly aggressive colors in <em>Magic</em>, only beat out by red and green. That being said, it’s quite good at neutralizing its opponents’ permanents.</p>
<p>The most obvious and perhaps the least bemoaned is its use of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pacifism" href="#" target="_blank">Pacifism</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In short, white has many different cards with the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/building-a-commander-deck-around-pacifism-effects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">primary effect of preventing a creature from attacking or blocking</a>. This is quite frustrating in something like a <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/voltron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Voltron deck</a>, where the deck revolves around making one or two superpowered creatures.</p>
<p>But Pacifism isn’t the problem. It doesn’t prevent passive or active abilities and it can only affect creatures. The disrespect arrives when the White player upgrades.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planar Disruption"></div></div><br />
<em>Note how this is just Pacifism, but better</em></p>
<h2>Exiling</h2>
<p>Then, of course, there’s white's propensity to simply remove things it finds undesirable. Blue returns permanents to your hand while black takes a more permanent solution. White, meanwhile, simply removes them from the game.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swords to Plowshares"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path to Exile"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Borrowed Time"></div></div><br />
<em>Regularly and with extreme prejudice</em></p>
<p>With a verified arsenal of enchantments designed entirely around exiling permanents, there are few things white can’t effectively deal with. Coupled with the protections mentioned earlier, white is a necessary color for any deck that wants to bolster its defenses.</p>
<h1>But What If…</h1>
<h2>… You Play a White Deck With a Scorched Earth Policy?</h2>
<p>Much like how the opposite of black’s fast-and-loose grasp of its permanents is to hold them close, white’s opposite is to do exactly that. Your life is a suggestion. Your hand is meaningless. Permanents are anything but.</p>
<p>It is time to invent Sui White.</p>
<h2>Alabaster Host Time</h2>
<p>I would be remiss if I didn’t immediately address that the white-aligned Phyrexian faction is perhaps the least similar to its traditional strengths. While it still involves quite a large amount of token generation and martial supremacy, the Alabaster Host focuses on toxic Mites and Incubator tokens*</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mite Overseer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flensing Raptor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phyrexian Awakening"></div></div><br />
<em>*As of All Will Be One and March Of The Machine.</em></p>
<p>Despite the fact that Mite or Incubator creation is somewhat aligned with white’s regular strategies, poison tokens are a far cry from “archetypal white.” Artifacts growing over time feels more like a Gruul (red-green) archetype than a white one.</p>
<p>Which, thematically, actually fits quite well for a compleated color.</p>
<p>Allow yourself to suffer the sin of token generation in order to assign those poison counters your opponents so desperately deserve.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Charge of the Mites"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sunder the Gateway"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skrelv, Defector Mite"></div></div><br />
<em>Who knew white decks were so toxic?</em></p>
<h2>Removal</h2>
<p>While it’s quite established for a white deck to exile or remove threats it doesn’t want to deal with, properly executing them isn’t really in its wheelhouse. Therefore, this should be one of the first things we look into incorporating into an off-white deck.</p>
<p>Perhaps it’s because I dug too deep or because I misjudged how much removal white really has, but here’s quite the list!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Single Combat"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Promise of Loyalty"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Celestial Kirin"></div></div><br />
<em>If you’re wondering about board wipes, we’ll discuss those later</em></p>
<p>While there are varying levels of permanency and flexibility, broadly speaking there’s a range of options available to you. You can focus on enchantment, artifact, or creature removal equally well, without relying on the “exile a permanent” enchantments white is so well-known for.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Generous Gift"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disenchant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crush Contraband"></div></div><br />
<em>Much more permanent than temporary exile</em></p>
<p>Though it should be noted that most of these options are more expensive or less flexible than other colors’ counterparts. Again, these aren’t ideal mechanics to build a white deck around, but that’s why it’s <em>Commander Unoptimized</em>!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stroke of Midnight"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Catapult Master"></div></div><br />
<em>Keep their board clear!</em></p>
<h2>Sacrifice</h2>
<p>Unfortunately for us, self-sacrifice is an extremely “traditionally good” thing to do. That means that thematically, it doesn’t quite align without off-white ideals. However, white doesn’t mechanically engage in self-sacrifice often enough for this to be an issue.</p>
<p>Therefore, allow yourself to cache in on some good ol’ fashioned flagellation! Whether self-inflicted damage, discarding, or sacrificing permanents, all are fair game!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darien, King of Kjeldor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Duty Beyond Death"></div></div><br />
<em>Makes the off-white seem “Bone”</em></p>
<h2>Scorched Earth</h2>
<p>Single-target removal simply isn’t enough. Sometimes you need to remove everything, whether permanents or opponents. And that’s why white can share the pain, much in the same way it refuses to share lifegain.</p>
<p>Cards such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ankh of Mishra" href="#" target="_blank">Ankh of Mishra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> spread pain and give you pinging direct damage. But anyone who has fought a white deck knows its propensity for board wipes.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Final Showdown"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Farewell"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hour of Reckoning"></div></div><br />
<em>Take them down with you!</em></p>
<p>This is where we run into an issue. If board wipes are so associated with white, is it not counterintuitive to include them?</p>
<p>I challenge this by drawing attention to our complete lack of protection. If you read the above cards, they don’t discriminate between friend and foe. And without white’s built-in safety net of indestructibility, these are legitimate threats that will affect you as well.</p>
<p>Exactly as off-white intended.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heliod&#039;s Intervention"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mass Calcify"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Armageddon"></div></div><br />
<em>Burn their crops, salt their fields!</em></p>
<h1>To Push It Further</h1>
<p>In a similar vein, there are certain effects that have a nested synergy with white but deviate from the norm in key aspects. Are these off-limits?</p>
<p>Not always. Take <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Suture Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Suture Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This gives you life which, gross, lifegain in a white deck! But it also damages opponents for playing creatures, which is exactly the sort of direct-damage taxing that is just odd enough to work.</p>
<p>In a situation like this, the fact it’s a “may” effect means you can set your own difficulty. It's entirely reasonable to take the healing from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Suture Priest" href="#" target="_blank">Suture Priest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Even if you’re avoiding lifegain overall, you’re including it for the damage, so you might as well benefit from it.</p>
<p>But if you really wanted to play off-color? Ignore those healing effects. Life is gross and you want nothing to do with it. The only life that matters is the last and anything else is fluff that needs to be trimmed.</p>
<p>And even then, who needs life? <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Unlife" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Unlife</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is much more on-theme.</p>


How To Play White Differently In EDH

Build a Copy-Themed Deck With Saheeli, the Sun's Brilliance

The Best Free White Spells for Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art By <a href="https://www.artstation.com/fajareka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fajareka Setiawan</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>Beyond the Multiverse</em>! This week we're tackling something on my short list, but also an actual deck I currently own (like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourteenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourteenth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from the other week).</p>
<p>However, I must first address the elephant in the room. I'm talking about the recent announcement regarding the <em>Spider-Man </em>set. The <em>Traversing the Omenpaths </em>product line will have in-universe equivalents, but for digital only. I may be an ardent supporter of <em>Universes Beyond</em>, but I cannot condone this. I digress, though, because you and I want to delve into today's deck, and that I will deliver on that.</p>
<h2>Greeting Your Mentor</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ezio Auditore da Firenze"></div></div>
<p>Ezio, coming from the <em>Assassin's Creed</em> franchise, was a Florentine nobleman who's more well-known (to us real worlders anyway), as a master assassin. He came to learn of his assassin heritage at 17, with the death of several family members, including his father. From there, Ezio went on to thwart the Templars on numerous occasions. He died of a heart attack while visiting Florence with his wife and daughter, yet he would go on to become the ancestor of one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desmond Miles" href="#" target="_blank">Desmond Miles</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Consequently, given his backstory, Ezio needs us to run a load of Assassins to take advantage of his first ability. This actually comes in handy, especially with the more expensive spells in the deck. In addition, don't rely on the second ability too much. It's neat when you pull it off, but Ezio himself is sitting with a 3/2 statline, meaning it'll take a while for you to be able to trigger. There's a faster, more impactful way of outright eliminating players - but we'll get to that in a moment.</p>
<h2>Ezio Auditore a Firenze Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Going Universes Beyond-Advent Creed" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ezio Auditore da Firenze
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Achilles Davenport
*1 Adéwalé, Breaker of Chains
*1 Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad
*1 Arbaaz Mir
*1 Arno Dorian
*1 Aveline de Grandpré
*1 Aya of Alexandria
*1 Basim Ibn Ishaq
*1 Bayek of Siwa
*1 Bureau Headmaster
*1 Edward Kenway
*1 Eivor, Battle-Ready
*1 Evie Frye
*1 Ezio, Blade of Vengeance
*1 Jacob Frye
*1 Kassandra, Eagle Bearer
*1 Layla Hassan
*1 Lydia Frye
*1 Mary Read and Anne Bonny
*1 Queen Marchesa
*1 Ramses, Assassin Lord
*1 Ratonhnhaké꞉ton
*1 Shao Jun
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Assassin&#039;s Trophy
*1 Crush Contraband
*1 Desynchronization
*1 Harrow
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Unexpected Windfall
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Assassin Gauntlet
*1 Brotherhood Regalia
*1 Caduceus, Staff of Hermes
*1 Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass
*1 Excalibur, Sword of Eden
*1 Haystack
*1 Hidden Blade
*1 Hidden Footblade
*1 Hookblade
*1 Hunter&#039;s Bow
*1 Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
*1 Phantom Blade
*1 Raven Clan War-Axe
*1 Smoke Bomb
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sword of Feast and Famine
*1 Sword of Light and Shadow
*1 The Spear of Leonidas
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Cultivate
*1 Eagle Vision
*1 Farseek
*1 Overpowering Attack
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Restart Sequence
*1 Viewpoint Synchronization
*1 What Must Be Done
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Black Market Connections
*1 Coastal Piracy
*1 Guardian Project
*1 Rooftop Bypass
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Abstergo Entertainment
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Brotherhood Headquarters
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fiery Islet
*2 Forest
*1 Haunted Ridge
*2 Island
*2 Mountain
*1 Nurturing Peatland
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*2 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Shipwreck Marsh
*1 Silent Clearing
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Stormcarved Coast
*1 Sunbaked Canyon
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunken Hollow
*2 Swamp
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Waterlogged Grove
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Advent Creed</h2>
<p>I'm willing to bet you didn't think I was going to post the list this early in the article, did you? There's actually a story behind this list. It began when I had an idea of doing an advent calendar for Christmas last year. Originally I was going to do <em>Foundations Jumpstart</em>, but insatiable curiously killed it. Acting quickly, I went with a couple of boxes of the <em>Assassin's Creed</em> set, and the rest is history (I pulled a regular version of our commander on the first day. Talk about luck, right?). After the calendar was done, I finished it off with buying the few singles I needed from the set. In addition, this included a couple of cards from one of the <em>Secret Lair </em>drops.</p>
<p>Assembling the deck, especially towards the end, it was really difficult to make the last cuts, and I had to make some hard choices to finish the decklist. Some might say it's all of that Equipment the deck's using, but there's a reason for that.</p>
<h2>The Team Across Time</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edward Kenway"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ramses, Assassin Lord|sld|1560"></div></div>
<p>Above all, the reason I started with the list early is because of the Assassin support. Before the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>set, Assassin support was sparse to nonexistent. Now, we have a truckload to work with, laced together with historic and Equipment subthemes. Unfortunately, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desmond Miles" href="#" target="_blank">Desmond Miles</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (17,119 decks) is about the biggest hole in the list, and I'm currently trying to fit him in somehow. Like I said above, the list was tight enough for me to make some difficult cuts.</p>
<p>Most importantly, the Assassins are the backbone of our deck. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad" href="#" target="_blank">Altaïr Ibn-La&#039;Ahad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (9,276 decks) ensures that, with time, we'll be swinging with a swarm of Assassins, albeit temporarily. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edward Kenway" href="#" target="_blank">Edward Kenway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,200 decks) nets us Treasures to ramp us. However, it's a shame that he and Altaïr don't combo together, since the latter's tokens are gone post-combat. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arno Dorian" href="#" target="_blank">Arno Dorian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (14,539 decks) buffs even the token Assassins we'll be making enough to be block-worthy. Speaking of buffs, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bayek of Siwa" href="#" target="_blank">Bayek of Siwa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,176 decks) gives our creatures double strike, capable of carrying out a devastating attack.</p>
<p>The most dangerous card in the deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ramses, Assassin Lord" href="#" target="_blank">Ramses, Assassin Lord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Basim, Master Assassin; 16,544 decks). This was the more impactful way I was alluding to of taking players out. Time him right, and you could potentially win out of nowhere. Otherwise, he's a decently sized anthem with deathtouch, which is good with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aveline de Grandpré" href="#" target="_blank">Aveline de Grandpré</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,568 decks). There's a few ways to give deathtouch to your other creatures, but it'll be just Aveline getting bigger most of the time.</p>
<h2>Growing the Brotherhood</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rooftop Bypass"></div></div>
<p>There are a few cards in the deck that produce Assassin tokens. Firstly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rooftop Bypass" href="#" target="_blank">Rooftop Bypass</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (11,901 decks) can give us up to three, given that we hit each player. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aya of Alexandria" href="#" target="_blank">Aya of Alexandria</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (16,061 decks) is similar, but has the potential to give us even more tokens. Meanwhile <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Queen Marchesa|sld|1559" href="#" target="_blank">Queen Marchesa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (reskinned as Amunet, Tyrant's End; ironic I mention her after Aya; 29,530 decks) introduces the monarch to the game. We'll get a card if we have it, and a hasty Assassin with deathtouch if we don't.</p>
<h2>Ancient Arsenal</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ratonhnhaké:ton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eivor, Battle-Ready"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hookblade"></div></div>
<p>In addition to the historic element of the deck, you'll notice a lot of Equipment there. The main reason is not just flavor (which works, too), but they're to work with a pair of Boros legends we covered a while ago: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Battle-Ready" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Battle-Ready</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kassandra, Eagle Bearer" href="#" target="_blank">Kassandra, Eagle Bearer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,363 and 8,656 decks, respectively). Eivor is a threat in her own right, dealing damage equal to our Equipment stash, and having a sizable body to work with. Meanwhile, Kassandra works specifically with legendary Equipment, hence why we run a few here. I'd use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eivor, Wolf-Kissed" href="#" target="_blank">Eivor, Wolf-Kissed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I didn't have enough targets to make her worthwhile.</p>
<p>However, those aren't the only creatures working with Equipment. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ratonhnhaké:ton" href="#" target="_blank">Ratonhnhaké:ton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,301 decks) brings back Equipment, which is automatically equipped to the Assassin token he creates. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bureau Headmaster" href="#" target="_blank">Bureau Headmaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (16,232 decks), our only non-legendary creature in the deck, helps us cast our Equipment, and makes equip costs more manageable. Lastly, Equipment can be tapped for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shao Jun" href="#" target="_blank">Shao Jun</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (8,787 decks)'s ability while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arbaaz Mir" href="#" target="_blank">Arbaaz Mir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (20,652 decks) will drain opponents since Equipment are also historic by their nature.</p>
<p>Our Equipment suite mostly draws from the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>set, but there's some good stuff here. We have access to the likes of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (136,870 decks) down to the lowly, but useful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hookblade" href="#" target="_blank">Hookblade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (5,615 decks). The colored Equipment cycle (and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hidden Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Hidden Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (12,493 decks)) all enter and equip themselves to a creature automatically, so there's no equip cost to worry about initially. Moreover, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Excalibur, Sword of Eden" href="#" target="_blank">Excalibur, Sword of Eden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (60,260 decks) and the ever-useful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Spear of Leonidas" href="#" target="_blank">The Spear of Leonidas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (21,116 decks), both of which can make our commander into a major threat. Lastly, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caduceus, Staff of Hermes" href="#" target="_blank">Caduceus, Staff of Hermes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brotherhood Regalia" href="#" target="_blank">Brotherhood Regalia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (39,122 and 86,747 decks, respectively) work to protect our creatures, if not our commander.</p>
<h2>Beyond the Franchise</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Guardian Project"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crush Contraband"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Austere Command"></div></div>
<p>Trying to build a deck using exclusively cards from the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>deck is a fool's errand: we have basics, yes, but outside of those, there's really only nine nonbasic lands to its name. In addition, your access to the essentials, like ramp, are minimal at best.</p>
<p>Besides the obvious includes of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcane Signet" href="#" target="_blank">Arcane Signet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Command Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Command Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, we also have format all-stars like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultivate" href="#" target="_blank">Cultivate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rampant Growth" href="#" target="_blank">Rampant Growth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (1,226,154 and 940,197 decks, respectively), which both help ramp us to keep up with our opponents. Card draw has a stronger presence within the set, but it could be a bit better. In that vein, this is where cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guardian Project" href="#" target="_blank">Guardian Project</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (229,853 decks) come in handy. Similarly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unexpected Windfall" href="#" target="_blank">Unexpected Windfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (181,542 decks) provides us with both ramp and draw; not many cards in the list can do that.</p>
<p>Where the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>set excelled was in its removal. There was a lot of removal in there, so I took a bit to see what was worth adding. While some of the Equipment count as removal, we need more of it, especially more superior options. While the set had <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Assassin&#039;s Trophy" href="#" target="_blank">Assassin&#039;s Trophy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (376,282 decks), it's hard to pass up <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anguished Unmaking" href="#" target="_blank">Anguished Unmaking</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (321,075 decks). Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crush Contraband" href="#" target="_blank">Crush Contraband</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (35,439 decks) has the capacity to hit two targets instead of one.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the two-ish wipes the set had were very good. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Desynchronization" href="#" target="_blank">Desynchronization</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (39,827 decks) is a one-sided <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this deck, and will hit very few of our cards. Secondly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="What Must Be Done" href="#" target="_blank">What Must Be Done</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (7,867 decks) is flexible utility, though you'll mostly choose the wipe option. I felt like the deck could benefit from one more wipe, and I picked <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Austere Command" href="#" target="_blank">Austere Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (337,633 decks) for its adaptability.</p>
<p>Lastly, for the mana base, I mostly drew from the <em>Doctor Who</em> release, since the precons there had some of the best mana bases to exist. While we have access to the enemy-colored Horizon duals, forming a panorama (more bonus points if you're using the full-art Ezio to complete it), that release came with nearly the full cycle of slow duals (ex. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haunted Ridge" href="#" target="_blank">Haunted Ridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), finished only by a couple of scry lands for now.</p>
<h2>Back to the Present</h2>
<p>Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Fourteenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">The Fourteenth Doctor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <em>Doctor Who</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezio Auditore da Firenze" href="#" target="_blank">Ezio Auditore da Firenze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mostly just needed some stuff from beyond the release to help stabilize its foundations. For a small set, with its setup similar to the much-maligned <em>March of the Machine: Aftermath </em>release, there were a lot of cool cards in <em>Assassin's Creed</em>.</p>
<p>Return next week, when we'll take center stage in another franchise. Until then, if you're reading up on something historical, perhaps you can learn about the respective time periods the <em>Assassin's Creed </em>franchise drew its inspiration from.</p>


Building Ezio Auditore da Firenze Using Only Universes Beyond Cards

Which Commanders Are Most Affected by the New Game Changers?

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spirit Bonds" href="#" target="_blank">Spirit Bonds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/willmurai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Willian Murai</a></em></p>
<p>As <em>Magic</em> players, we've all been there: the aristocrats player waits for the perfect moment to unleash a long string of sacrifice effects that ends the game. On one hand, it's impressive to watch; it feels like a complex puzzle being assembled before your eyes. On the other hand, it can feel like an unsatisfying way to lose, essentially having your game plan amount to nothing.</p>
<p>Whatever your feelings may be on aristocrats, there's no denying their popularity within <em>Magic</em>, especially in Commander. According to EDHREC data, there are over 100 thousand <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aristocrat decks in their database</a>. This huge amount of popularity means that there are only six deck "themes" or strategies that are more popular than it on EDHREC.</p>
<p>Most aristocrat decks are heavily associated with the color black, as it provides the most support for both sacrifice outlets and cards that benefit from creatures dying. However, there are plenty of great aristocrat cards outside of black, and this mini-series of articles covers the best options for aristocrat players in every color!</p>
<p>We began this series over on <a href="https://commandersherald.com/the-best-aristocrat-cards-in-commander-green-edition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander's Herald with green</a>, and will be continuing our "mini-series" here with white.</p>
<p>This list is in no particular order, but the first card is an absolute heater...</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Martyr&#039;s Cause" href="#" target="_blank">Martyr&#039;s Cause</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Martyr&#039;s Cause"></div></div>
<p>Martyr's Cause is a rare sacrifice outlet in white that covers two critical categories for any aristocrat deck: protection, and free sacrifice outlet. By "free," I mean that it doesn't cost any mana to sacrifice creatures, and the difference between having to use mana vs. not is pretty huge. The "protection" piece comes in the form of protecting our life total; we're playing aristocrats, so there's no denying that we will be attacked. This card allows us to blank potentially lethal attacks, and aristocrat decks often only need to survive one or two combat steps before being able to go off.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fanatical Devotion" href="#" target="_blank">Fanatical Devotion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fanatical Devotion"></div></div>
<p>Fanatical Devotion is another "free" white sacrifice outlet, which is amazing, but it also provides aristocrat decks with a rare opportunity: regeneration. Regenerate is not a mechanic that's seen too often anymore, but that's no reason to underrate it.</p>
<p>If you're unfamiliar with how regeneration works, it's pretty simple. Whenever a creature is destroyed (either from a "destroy" effect or from damage), you may activate the regenerate ability (in this case, sacrificing a creature), tap the creature, and remove it from combat (if it's in combat). When you do this, the damage is removed and the creature is not destroyed. This can save some critical creatures in response to spot removal or a board wipe, and that's what makes this card so good.</p>
<p>Aristocrat decks often have several expendable creatures, so sacrificing something expendable for the good of protecting something more important is a price we're willing to pay.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knight-Captain of Eos" href="#" target="_blank">Knight-Captain of Eos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Knight-Captain of Eos"></div></div>
<p>Like our first two picks, this is another sacrifice outlet, but a little more specific. It does two things that we want: it generates disposable bodies when it enters, and it gives us a sacrifice outlet that can protect our life total. Sure, we need to sacrifice Soldiers, but this creature makes Soldiers when it enters <em>and</em> Soldiers are one of the most common creature types in white.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Martyred Rusalka" href="#" target="_blank">Martyred Rusalka</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Martyred Rusalka"></div></div>
<p>This card might seem innocuous, but it can prevent an opponent's biggest threat from attacking us. It's the perfect political piece, as we can threaten to activate it if an opponent is aiming to attack us. The mana cost on any sacrifice ability can be tricky, but holding up one white mana can telegraph this <em>and</em> things like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Swords to Plowshares"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path to Exile"></div></div>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Promise of Bunrei" href="#" target="_blank">Promise of Bunrei</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Promise of Bunrei"></div></div>
<p>This card can act as a three-mana spell that creates four disposable bodies for our strategy, and that's amazing. The only tricky part about it is that we can't choose exactly when to trigger it; we <em>have</em> to sacrifice it as soon as one of our creatures die. We should have enough sacrifice outlets where this shouldn't be a problem, but it's important to keep in mind.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Promise of Tomorrow" href="#" target="_blank">Promise of Tomorrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Promise of Tomorrow"></div></div>
<p>There is no other card that can be riskier to our strategy than this one. Exiling our creatures is not a "may" trigger, so any reanimation effects are effectively turned off while this is in play.</p>
<p>The floor of this card might be low, but the ceiling is incredibly high. If we have a sacrifice outlet onboard, we can sacrifice our creatures to trigger this whenever we need. On the plus side, this card is crazy against board wipes, as it basically renders any effort from our opponents to deal with our board null and void (outside of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Farewell"></div></div>
<p>One thing to keep in mind with this: it <em>does not </em>take away any death triggers you may have, as the creatures become exiled <em>after</em> they die - which is so cool!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spirit Bonds" href="#" target="_blank">Spirit Bonds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spirit Bonds"></div></div>
<p>This card creates tokens from our nontoken creatures entering the battlefield, for the small price of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. While that ability is pretty good, we're going to focus primarily on the second ability: making a non-Spirit indestructible. Similarly to Knight-Captain of Eos, this relies on a specific creature type, but also like Knight-Captain of Eos, this card creates the creature type we need.</p>
<p>It turns out, protecting our important pieces is very good!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worthy Cause" href="#" target="_blank">Worthy Cause</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Worthy Cause"></div></div>
<p>This is a single-use sacrifice spell that gains us life equal to the sacrificed creature's toughness. Instead of seeing this as a one-mana spell, I advise you to see it as a three-mana spell, as we'll want to use the buyback ability. Always having a three-mana, instant-speed way to keep us alive is huge. Remember when I said we'll probably be getting attacked a lot?</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anafenza, Unyielding Lineage" href="#" target="_blank">Anafenza, Unyielding Lineage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Anafenza, Unyielding Lineage"></div></div>
<p>This card just came out in <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em>, but it's incredible for aristocrat decks. Endures 2 means that we can put two +1/+1 counter on Anafenza or we can create a 2/2 Spirit. Getting Anafenza big doesn't really do anything, as she doesn't have evasion, but the ability to create more expendable creatures is why I'm talking about this card. Our creatures <em>will</em> die, and if we can benefit by creating more creatures in the process, we're in a winning position.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loyal Retainers" href="#" target="_blank">Loyal Retainers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loyal Retainers"></div></div>
<p>I tried to stay away from creatures with single-use sacrifice abilities, but this one is just too strong. Not only can it generate infinite combos (this is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s best friend), but it can also bring back our commander in a pinch. Depending on the commander, this may not matter, but it's likely that our commander will be a magnet for removal, and rather than casting it for 10 or more mana, we can just return it with this ability!</p>
<div id="238-2533-5147" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="238-2533-5147" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Gerrard%2C%20Weatherlight%20Hero%22%2C%22Loyal%20Retainers%22%2C%22Goblin%20Bombardment%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20blinking%22%2C%22Infinite%20damage%22%2C%22Infinite%20death%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20ETB%22%2C%22Infinite%20LTB%22%2C%22Infinite%20sacrifice%20triggers%22%5D&id=238-2533-5147&color=RW&extraRequirementCount=1"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe><br />
Outside of "protecting" our commander or going infinite, the game is flooded with great legendary creatures these days, and that makes this card the perfect reanimation option for any white deck (especially if it lacks black!).</p>
<p>That concludes my list for the color white. I hope all you aristocrat players out there learned something new today. Stay tuned for my exploration into the remaining colors, all while saving the best (black) for last!</p>


The Best White Aristocrat Cards in Commander

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by John Avon</em></p>
<p>Welcome to <em>The Cycle Report</em>, an series where I rank the best cards of any given cycle for Commander play. Today, we're looking at one of <em>Magic</em>'s oldest and most expansive cycles: Charms.</p>
<p>If you're unfamiliar, <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Modal/Charms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charms</a> are cards that let players pick from one of multiple effects (usually three). Also, they have "Charm" in their name. There's actually been many different cycles of Charms over the years, making them a sort of meta-cycle (or <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Cycle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tight cycle</a>, in designerspeak). In Commander, these cards are especially relevant. The flexibility of Charms means including one can actually free up a card slot - instead of playing one card to counter spells and another to remove a creature, you can play a Charm that can do both!</p>
<p>Today we'll look at the Charms whose effects offer the most value, flexibility, and potential for exciting blow-out plays.</p>
<h2>Honorable Mentions</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vision Charm"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vision Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Vision Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is, admittedly, too niche to see play in most decks. But if your deck centers around artifacts, phasing is just about the best protection you could ask for. And the ability to turn all lands of one type into another is sneakily disruptive, as it has the potential to lock an opponent out of playing spells for a turn. Just watch the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/tergrid-god-of-fright" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tergrid</a> player try to cast their commander when all their Swamps are Islands! Finally, its inclusion in Magic's funkiest format, <a href="https://blog.cardkingdom.com/fringe-format-dandan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forgetful Fish</a>, AKA <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dandân" href="#" target="_blank">Dandân</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, lends the card a sort of folklore appeal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Simic Charm"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Simic Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Simic Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one half of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which already makes it notable. Bouncing your own creature to save it from a wrath or re-buy its enters or cast trigger is always good value, and bouncing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightsteel Colossus" href="#" target="_blank">Blightsteel Colossus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (or <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/yargle-and-multani" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yargle</a>) can be life-saving. Finally, no one suspects a combat trick in Commander, so the +3/+3 can be hilariously effective, and can even be used politically on an opponent's creature.</p>
<h2>10. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/khans-of-tarkir/jeskai-charm">Jeskai Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jeskai Charm"></div></div>
<p>Admittedly, you might not get much use out of the middle mode of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jeskai Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Jeskai Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but if you've ever won a game of Commander with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Bolt" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Bolt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you know the thrill potential is there.</p>
<p>But this card earns its place for the third mode, because there are a lot of <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/jeskai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeskai</a> decks that care about noncreature spells and going wide - the new <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/elsha-threefold-master" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elsha</a> is a perfect example, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Kykar, Wind&#039;s Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an all-time favorite. The buff to your team coupled with the lifelink can lead to massive point swings, and the removal mode might save your life one day. It'll certainly annoy your opponents, that's for sure.</p>
<h2>9. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/khans-of-tarkir/sultai-charm">Sultai Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sultai Charm"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sultai Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Sultai Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the bread-and-butter of Charms. Its modes aren't exciting or splashy, but it can remove a good deal of troublesome permanents, and if it's not doing that, the final mode lets it replace itself. The ability to draw two cards then discard one has extra relevance in <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/sultai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sultai</a> decks, which often want specific cards in their graveyard. Dumping a nine-drop haymaker rotting in your hand for later <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/achievement-unlocked-building-reanimation-in-multiplayer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reanimation</a> always feels good.</p>
<h2>8. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/planeshift/riths-charm">Rith's Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rith&#039;s Charm"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rith&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Rith&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an oldie, but a goodie. It's the only Charm that can destroy a land, and as WotC seems intent on printing more problematic lands (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Urza&#039;s Saga" href="#" target="_blank">Urza&#039;s Saga</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, anyone?) I value this effect pretty highly. It can also be three 1/1 tokens at instant speed for three mana, which is a respectable rate, and there are <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/baylen-the-haymaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">any</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/jetmir-nexus-of-revels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">number</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/jinnie-fay-jetmirs-second" target="_blank" rel="noopener">of</a> <a href="http://edhrec.com/commanders/ghired-conclave-exile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Naya</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/kitt-kanto-mayhem-diva" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commanders</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/phabine-bosss-confidant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/gahiji-honored-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener">care</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/rith-the-awakener" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/samut-the-driving-force" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tokens</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/ghired-mirror-of-the-wilds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/hazezon-shaper-of-sand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">going</a> <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/aragorn-hornburg-hero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wide</a>.</p>
<h2>7. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/planar-chaos/dawn-charm">Dawn Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dawn Charm"></div></div>
<p>On its face, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seems like an entirely defensive spell, but it's one of the more subtly political cards I've seen. The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fog" href="#" target="_blank">Fog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mode can save you from an alpha strike, or you can save an ally in return for favors. Similarly, the second mode lets you regenerate <em>any</em> creature, which you can also use to curry favor. The last mode is the most niche, but countering a fully kicked <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rush of Dread" href="#" target="_blank">Rush of Dread</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will always feel incredible, and they never see it coming.</p>
<h2>6. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/streets-of-new-capenna/riveteers-charm">Riveteers Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Riveteers Charm"></div></div>
<p>Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sultai Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Sultai Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riveteers Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Riveteers Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is just all around solid. The removal mode can get around hexproof and shroud (just hope your opp isn't packing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as it targets a player!), and the last mode being incidental graveyard hate is growing more relevant by the day.</p>
<p>If neither of those two modes are doing it for you, you can always see three cards for three mana at instant speed, which is a decent rate.</p>
<h2>5. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/modern-horizons/archmages-charm">Archmage's Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archmage&#039;s Charm"></div></div>
<p>I'll admit, I have mixed feelings about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archmage&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Archmage&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It is, on its face, quite powerful. <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/staple-remover-counterspell">Countering spells</a> will never not be good. Drawing two cards is fine. Stealing a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with the final mode is always satisfying. The card puts in work, but the amount of dramatic, memorable moments it creates are few and far between, and the longer I play <em>Magic</em>, the more I'm looking to create those moments more than anything else.</p>
<h2>4. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/return-to-ravnica/rakdos-charm">Rakdos Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rakdos Charm"></div></div>
<p>Pound for pound, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is not better than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archmage&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Archmage&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but it's <em>my</em> list! There's almost always a use-case for the first two modes, but the real reason <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rakdos Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Rakdos Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is so high on the list is for the final mode, which I just adore. This has the potential to scale incredibly well on clogged boards; I've seen more than one game end with this card dishing out upwards of 40 damage across the table. The fact that it's a symmetrical effect makes it that much cooler.</p>
<h2>3. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/wilds-of-eldraine/charming-scoundrel">Charming Scoundrel</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Charming Scoundrel"></div></div>
<p>We could debate all day if <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Charming Scoundrel" href="#" target="_blank">Charming Scoundrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a charm or not - and please do, in the comments - but I've been slotting this into more and more decks. It's easy to cast, it blocks in the early game, and it's <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/blink" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blinkable</a>. This card can be a solid role player in a shocking number of strategies. Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sultai Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Sultai Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the rummaging effect can move a card from your hand to the 'yard for later reanimation, and WotC continues to print commanders with artifact and <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/treasure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Treasure</a> synergies. From <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/prosper-tome-bound" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prosper</a> to <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/sauron-lord-of-the-rings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sauron</a>, <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/uril-the-miststalker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uril</a> to <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/calamity-galloping-inferno" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calamity</a>, this lady simply belongs.</p>
<h2>2. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/gatecrash/boros-charm">Boros Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Boros Charm"></div></div>
<p>We've talked enough about the importance of protecting your board and the thrill of burning out an opponent at low life, so I won't reiterate that here. What I will say is I love <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/top-10-double-strike-enablers">double strike</a>. It's easily one of the best ability keywords in the format. It can be used offensively to end games out of nowhere, and it can be used defensively to trade up on blocks. And much like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dawn Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Dawn Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Boros Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Boros Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give double strike to any creature, meaning you can use it politically on an opponent's creature to completely upend an attack step.</p>
<p>Also, fun fact, I believe it's the only card whose artist shares a name with the card they drew!</p>
<h2>1. <a href="https://www.cardkingdom.com/mtg/murders-at-karlov-manor/archdruids-charm">Archdruid's Charm</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archdruid&#039;s Charm"></div></div>
<p>I don't think there's any debate that, pound-for-pound, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archdruid&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Archdruid&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the best Charm WotC has ever printed. When you break it down, it essentially breaks the Charm rules by having <em>five</em> modes, not three.</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Search your library for a creature card and put it into your hand.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Search your library for any land card (yes, really, any land card) and put it onto the battlefield.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Buff your creature, then <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Biting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">punch</a> an opponent's creature.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Exile target artifact.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Exile target enchantment.</li>
</ul>
<p>These modes range from good to phenomenal. Given the ability to tutor creatures and lands, the flexibility of this card really is nearly limitless. The only question is, can you cast it?</p>
<h2>Charmed, I'm Sure</h2>
<p>Those were my personal picks for the top 10 Charms in Commander. If anything, I hope you found a good utility piece that frees up a slot in your deck for your <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/pet-cards-hidden-gems-edhrecast-165" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pet card</a> (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loxodon Warhammer" href="#" target="_blank">Loxodon Warhammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, here I come!) or better yet, synergizes with your commander in ways you never considered.</p>
<p>What do you think? Did I miss your favorite Charm? Are you worried I hit my head and forgot <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Charming Prince" href="#" target="_blank">Charming Prince</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Golgari Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Golgari Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> exist? Let me know in the comments below! I'll read them. I promise.</p>


magic the gathering